Restoring History, Living In Style

Lori Bruton
2 hours ago
4 min read

A Rochester couple brings new life to an old home while honoring the stories that came before them

There is something special about a home that has lived many lives. You feel it the moment you step onto the wide front porch at 14 Granger Place, a 1920 multi-family on a tree-lined street in Rochester. That porch is where Katie and Matt first sat together over coffee on their very first date. It is also where Matt proposed. The boards beneath their feet have held laughter, conversations, and the beginning of a life they would build side by side. Today, that same porch welcomes new people into a space that has been lovingly restored, one thoughtful choice at a time.

*photo by Becky Arcadi - Next Door Photos*

Katie and Matt’s story began long before they ever imagined renovating homes together. Matt purchased 14 Granger Place in 2005 when he was single and passionate about real estate investment. He had been working with his hands since high school and renovated the property room by room.

Years later, he met Katie while doing tile work in her parents’ kitchen (She still has him saved in her phone as “Matt Tile Guy”). She had moved back to Rochester from Seattle to help her parents, and in the middle of that transition, she found the man who would become her husband.

They dated, got engaged, and lived on Granger Place. Katie got ready for their wedding there. They hosted their first Thanksgiving for both sides of the family and even built a table big enough to seat everyone. The home became a backdrop for their milestones, and its character shaped their story as much as they shaped its walls.

When they eventually moved into an 1868 farmhouse in Pittsford, they rented out the units at Granger Place. Years later, when a tenant left the ground floor unit in heartbreaking condition, they faced a choice. They could walk away, or they could begin again. They chose to restore. What came next became a lesson in resilience, creativity, and the beauty of bringing something back to life.

As they cleaned, repaired, and reimagined the space, Katie found herself drawn deeper into design. She had always loved older homes, but this project woke something new. She began to see how color, texture, and thoughtful choices could highlight the craftsmanship there all along.

The turning point came when she found a brass peacock fireplace screen. Its feathers, elegant and bold, became the inspiration for the entire palette of the first renovated unit. Peacock blue, soft greens, and warm golds brought out the high ceilings, the woodwork, and the bay window that had always been her favorite feature.

“It was like a peacock with its tail down. You know it is capable of so much beauty, but you are not sure how to get it there. Then one day it opens, and there it is.”

That metaphor became the heartbeat of their restoration work. They did not try to erase the home’s age. They honored it. In one unit, they kept the original butler’s pantry cabinets and painted them instead of replacing them. They added a new backsplash that complemented the vintage charm. They kept the cracked bathroom tile and the clawfoot tub because they told the story of the home. They mixed eras and styles, blending a vintage three-piece sectional with modern accents. They thrifted, hunted through flea markets, and found treasures on Facebook Marketplace. They chose pieces that spoke to them and allowed the space to evolve naturally.

Katie’s design philosophy is simple. Live in the space before you decorate. Keep what is worth keeping. Update with sensitivity. Let the home tell you what it wants to be. She encourages homeowners to be curious, to get their hands dirty, and to explore without fear. Sometimes a piece works. Sometimes it does not. That is part of the process.

Their son has been part of the journey too. He grew up sweeping sawdust, watching walls come down and go back up, and planting tulips along the sidewalk at Granger Place. The rainbow of blooms each spring is a tribute to Katie’s mother, who always planted tulips when Katie was a child. It is a generational thread woven into the home’s story.

When they began renting to travel nurses, they wanted each unit to feel like a warm welcome to Rochester. They added a pull-down map of the city, Lilac Festival posters, Kodak Girl prints, and nods to Midtown Plaza. These touches became a way to share their love for the community and offer visitors a sense of place.

Summer living is one of the joys of Granger Place. The front porch remains a favorite spot for morning coffee or quiet evenings. The backyard offers a shared green space with room for picnics, cornhole, and gatherings with friends. It is the kind of outdoor living that feels relaxed and inviting, a reminder that old homes can hold both history and everyday joy.

For those restoring older homes, Katie offers practical advice: Understand the style of the home, but do not feel trapped by it. Mix vintage with modern. Use color to highlight architectural details. Look for inspiration in unexpected places. Explore local resources like the Landmark Society of Western NY, The Historic House Handbook by Steve Jordan, and the public library’s history and genealogy department. Most of all, be patient. Restoration takes time, but it is worth it.

Katie and Matt’s work at Granger Place is more than renovation. It is preservation. It is storytelling. It is a celebration of Rochester’s past and a gift to the people who will live there next. Their journey shows that restoring a home is not just about fixing what is broken. It is about honoring what has endured and creating a space where new memories can take root.

14 Granger Place has been a springboard for hope, exploration, and creativity. It has shaped their family, their careers, and their love for old homes. It continues to evolve, just as they do. And through every project, every color choice, every restored detail, they are living proof that history can be preserved with heart and that style can grow from the stories that came before.